Ministers begged, 'machers' handed out lists: The Likud's day of battle

One could see the pools of blood yesterday at Binyanei HaUma in Jerusalem, hear the screams. That's how it is when there is a limited number of realistic spots on the Likud list for the Knesset and masses of contenders fighting for power, honor, and money. You wanted primaries and a celebration of democracy? You got a slaughterhouse.

Understand, on a day like this, when every vote counts, bugs like me felt like kings. Ministers and Knesset members begged me to include them on the short list. They laid out their rich resumes before me, from kindergarten, through army command, to the bill they submitted that failed. It was so uncomfortable for me to disappoint them and say that I don't have the right to vote at all. I'm just a junior journalist who came to prepare a story.

2026 Elections for the 26th Knesset | Mandate polls, bloc map, and updates<<

After all, what could I say to the charming guy who greeted me with a wide smile? "Very nice to meet you, Shmulik Silman, husband of Minister Idit," he introduced himself. "Can I ask you a personal favor?" We just met and already favors, maybe we should introduce the families first, go for a picnic at the Sachne? "Mark 127 on the form," he asked nicely. "Idit works day and night, she deserves it."

I nodded my head and promised to seriously consider the proposal. I continued on, and the wife of MK Amit Halevi caught me for a short conversation. A few steps to the right, and Bat-El Vaturi, the daughter of, asked me not to forget her father when I stand at the moment of truth at the ballot box. "You can't let people like him go," she persuaded.

Right, but how can one choose between so many serious and hardworking candidates? The volunteers of MK Avichay Buaron handed out grape-flavored popsicles, the people of MK Hanoch Milwidsky tried to tempt voters with jam cookies, Minister Yariv Levin sent a juggler on stilts, while at Minister May Golan's, they broadcast on a loop an interview she gave in fluent English. How beautifully she speaks, doesn't get confused with tenses, doesn't change the pace, so why shouldn't we vote for her?

While I was still debating, and on the way up to the ballot box, it was impossible to miss the Haredi "machers" who stood with a list of names and hurried the voters. One of them shoved a ready-made page at me and said: "These are the Prime Minister's recommendations. You don't need to do anything."

That is to say, play dumb, without an opinion, without a preference? In the paper shoved into my hand, among others, Keti Shitrit, Avi Dichter, Eli Cohen, Almog Cohen, and Yariv Levin were marked. I decided to skip it, because Dudi Amsalem was missing there for the popular flavor.

And Amsalem made a massive presence yesterday at Binyanei HaUma, with the addictive jingle 'Dudi Amsalem, a man of the people, you don't argue with success' playing loudly in the background. "I am always calm," the minister clarified. "I only fear the Creator."

Suddenly, the catchy song of the man of the people was aggressively pushed aside by the sensational jingle of the Minister of Transport, Miri Regev, who made a festive entrance with a long entourage of fans and sycophants behind her.

"137 thousand Likud voters are going out to vote for the best team," Regev declared and hurried to warn. "And the El Al union decided to remove me from the lists because I decided to bring the airline Wizz to the country. I said I would lower flight prices and that is what will happen, and no union will intimidate or blackmail me."

According to the popularity index in Jerusalem, it does not seem that Regev's status has been damaged. It took her about half an hour to get from the entrance plaza to the ballot box, where Minister Ze'ev Elkin stood and asked to receive a brave hug from her. In his delicate situation, the minister knew that any external help would help.

Elkin fought tooth and nail yesterday for a realistic spot. He handed out a card with his personal phone number to those arriving, and although he heard harsh things from Rami Ben-Yehuda's poisonous megaphone, he continued to smile and conduct business as usual.

"There are many who, after voting, told me they supported me, there are organized groups all over the country that are for me," he said. "In primaries, you can't be sure, but I feel support, especially after the Prime Minister gave a tailwind because of his need for someone as knowledgeable as me in the Russian field."

It seems to me that on the list of Avi Tzvi from the South, who came from the center to vote, Elkin was missing. "I don't have a camp," the Southerner said honestly. "Understand that you have limited options for determining the list when there are many good candidates. Ariel Kallner is a good candidate and Amit Halevi too. Everyone predicts 22-23 mandates for the Likud and I tell you, write down that we will have 26 mandates."

Yitzhak Siton, 86, one of the veterans of the Likud center, said that among his marked candidates is the orientalist Eddy Cohen as a new face and said he is not afraid of a turnaround in the upcoming elections. David Perel, also from the old generation, updated that he voted for the old guard. "People I know," he clarified. "Not those with the antics who only make noise."

I parted from the clear and pleasant air of Jerusalem and went down to the depressing humidity of Heichal Shlomo in northern Tel Aviv, for the primaries in the heart of the enemy, the leftist territory. There it was much quieter and calmer at the scorching noon hour.

I identified in the center the Brigadier General (res.) Uzi Dayan, 114 on the list, sitting in a tent next to Professor Talia Einhorn, and Omri Akunis, the brother of, who is running in the primaries for the Dan and Tel Aviv district slot. Everyone looked satisfied, smiling. Be sure that many of them will exchange the smile for a broken heart in the coming days when they realize that they will see the Knesset at most in a souvenir photo.